Making Magic with Denim

Jean Genies is a collaborative arts project with an ecological message.

The project involves reworking, making and mending – activities which become more popular as people are becoming more aware of the environmental impacts of fast fashion. The project aims to raise awareness of these issues while delivering workshops that give people the skills needed to make and mend clothing.

Alongside learning new skills, people will have the chance to contribute their message into a small textile artwork that will be made into a larger, collaborative piece.

The therapeutic benefits that stitching and being in a group provide are also becoming well known - benefits much in the tradition of quilting circles - where people gather and support one another to make a collective beautiful item.

Based in Newport, South Wales, the project is being delivered by Marion Cheung of Arting / Celfio and Sarah Crerar of Secret Vintage, as part of the Unearthing Creativity project. 

How to get involved 

We are calling for creative groups and individuals to join us. Do you know of a group that regularly meets in the Newport area and is looking for a new project to get involved in this winter? Please get in touch!

Please email [email protected] or contact us via our Facebook page: Jean Genies - making magic out of denim with any questions or to hear about the latest workshops. 

No matter where you are, you can still take part!

Wherever you're based, you're very welcome to take part in the project. Visit our Facebook page for guidance and helpful stitching templates.

During the project, we will showcase the artworks in an online gallery on Instagram @jeangeniesuk and on our Facebook page.

When I buy clothes from boot sales and house clearances, I wade through mountains of poor-quality clothes that are being thrown out after very little wear, some still with tags. Among them I find the gems that I can rescue and will have a second life, but it’s a very small percentage of what’s there. This led me to start to look at other ways of using some of these textiles.
Sarah Crerar, Secret Vintage 

Jean Genies is supported until March 2023 by Creative Lives as part of Unearthing Creativity, a Connect & Flourish project funded by the Arts Council Wales.